Cash Back?

I've seen a few threads where people are asking questions about variance, bank roll, theoretical win, etc.

And, typically, the term "cash back" comes into play as part of that answer.

I know there used to be a time when after a few hours, you could take your player's card to the cashier and they'd give you a certain amount of cash back.

For me, the last time I was in Vegas was 12, 13 years ago. I believe they did give cash back during that time I was there.

Here on the Gulf Coast, we don't get cash back. We get "Free Play". And, that % is nowhere near 1%.

For example, at The Scarlet Pearl, playing VP only, you have to have $3 coin in to get 1 pt, and $4500 pts to get $5 in Free play.

Except for Boomtown, pretty much all the Coast casinos offer free play with a percentage of less than .125%

So, my questions are:

Are you able to actually still get real cash back in Vegas - or is this just what we are calling it, out of habit?

And - if it's in the form of Free Play - isn't the percentage even lower, given the %disadvantage we face with the 6/9 pay table?

Unless someone's counting the value of the experience and the meals and the rooms...seems like the whole gulf coast is a sucker play. (Very little entertainment compared to Vegas)

I know for the Boyd properties (BConnected) 1,000 points = $1, and you can use that either on freeplay, or you can redeem it at gift shops, restaurants, buffets, etc. - so in that sense it's cash back. But I don't think you can actually redeem your points for actual cash though.

Sometimes cash back but usually free play, or your choice of the two/three including comps. Sometimes you have a choice but freeplay/cashback at lower rate than comps, sometimes you accumulate comps and freeplay/cash seperately....sometimes a host can get you a bit more if you're losing......all is pretty property/chain specific. Boyd in Las Vegas, for example, if using points you get 40% off food. Whether that's worth more or less than the free play is a personal judgement call, probably matters how much other food comps you have other places etc.

4Q, D, and jerrys nugget have actual cash back, because you have to go to players club, often wait in line, then go back to cage and possibly wait in line again to redeem. I'd personally rather have the freeplay, even if value isn't 100% it's quicker, worth close to same thing, and preferred given a value placed on my time.

Main Street Station(Boyd gaming) offers cash back. 1000 points= $1.00 cash back. Bconnected club fills out payment voucher and then you have to collect at the cashier.

Quote: mcallister3200

Sometimes cash back but usually free play, or your choice of the two/three including comps. Sometimes you have a choice but freeplay/cashback at lower rate than comps, sometimes you accumulate comps and freeplay/cash seperately....sometimes a host can get you a bit more if you're losing......all is pretty property/chain specific. Boyd in Las Vegas, for example, if using points you get 40% off food. Whether that's worth more or less than the free play is a personal judgement call, probably matters how much other food comps you have other places etc.

4Q, D, and jerrys nugget have actual cash back, because you have to go to players club, often wait in line, then go back to cage and possibly wait in line again to redeem. I'd personally rather have the freeplay, even if value isn't 100% it's quicker, worth close to same thing, and preferred given a value placed on my time.

Most AP's realize the true value of free play nowadays.

I can still remember the first time I heard that FP money back download sound(not sure why, when or where HR comes to mind but not sure), I was puzzled and thought something was wrong for a second.

Sure Gamblers bonus and others had a free credit system in place long before.

The horseshoe Baltimore gives return rewards based on vp play. Have never figured out how they calculate it but it must be based on denom and time played. I do 2500 tier credits a lot of days and the return rewards have varied from $140 - $240. There also may be some cap as on some days when doing 4000 I get a similar return reward amount as doing 2500. Note that this comes back as an offer for free play and you have a few weeks to redeem or it expires. The same 2500 tier credits increases your reward credits by $25 in earned comps.